Ex-jailer charged with molestation

A former Dawson County Sheriff’s detention officer has posted $80,200 bail following his arrest on child molestation and statutory rape charges.

Justin Tim Rider, 22, of Dawsonville was arrested Feb. 20 at his home in connection with reports that he was having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl.

The former jailer, who worked for the sheriff’s office from January 2006 to November 2007, is charged with two counts of child molestation and one count of statutory rape.

Sheriff’s Maj. John Cagle said additional charges are likely.

Rider could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Sheriff Billy Carlisle said Rider resigned in 2007 three days after he was questioned about allegations of inappropriate sexual contact with female inmates and violations of established rules by “allowing a murder suspect out of his cell to look into female cell(s).”

No charges against Rider resulted from the internal affairs investigation, which stemmed from allegations by an inmate who, according to the internal affairs summary, claimed to have seen the sexual contact.

Rider began working at the detention center more than a year after graduating from Dawson County High School, where he was a member of the sheriff’s Explorer program for youth interested in law enforcement.

Rider received primarily positive performance recommendations from his superiors at the detention center, although an evaluation in September 2006 warned the “officer needs to be able to distinguish what is acceptable when dealing with inmates. Officer needs not to be as personable with inmates.”